Harty on Rebels’ postponement and World Cup rugby

Published:07:00Friday 02 October 2015

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THE new era at Woodside Road has certainly been eventful both on and off the field. The Rebels faithful ‘enjoyed’ another first on Tuesday, with the postponement of the FA Cup replay due to the St Neots coach suffering a flat tyre at Brentwood.

No-one at the club, even Morty Hollis, could remember a game being postponed in these circumstances.

Due to work commitments, I didn’t make the trip to Cambridgeshire on Saturday, but those who did relayed reports of a spirited cup tie which the Rebels were a tad unlucky not to win at the first attempt so, after the draw, everything was set up for another intriguing contest on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, St Neots’ coach got a puncture at Brentwood. Punctures happen to all vehicles, 20 years ago, I can remember a hearse getting one on the A3, although we still made it to the crematorium!

The real losers here are the Worthing supporters and, unfortunately, a ground hopper who had made it down to Woodside from the Isle of Sheppey on Tuesday, Naturally, everyone received a full refund and we now look forward to the proposed rearranged game next Tuesday.

The football calendar dictates that it will be another Tuesday so, hopefully, St Neots’ journey will be a lot less eventful.

So, the unthinkable happened and England lost in the rugby to Wales, and now face World Cup elimination if they fail to beat Australia at Twickenham on Saturday night.

I actually didn’t see the game on Saturday as I already had a trip to the theatre with Mrs H planned.

We went to the Rialto in Brighton to watch ‘Mein Kampervan’ a new musical comedy written by my former BBC Sussex producer Simon Levenson.

The plot involves Angela Merkel driving round Europe in a camper van with a cryogenically preserved Adolf Hitler meeting various heads of state and political figures over the course of a couple of hours.

I loved it, however the commander-in-chief, more a Lloyd-Webber officianado, had a look on her face at the end mirrored by thousands of English rugby fans at the final whistle on Saturday.

Hopefully, the balance will be redressed this weekend as those wonderful chaps from Cardiff City visit The Amex to take on and, I say this with a sense of great pride, the only undefeated team in domestic professional football.

Ending on a positive note regarding Worthing Football Club, prior to the re-arranged cup replay, next Tuesday at 4.30pm sees the first open trials for the new WFC Development Centre.